They stole Jonathan’s plan, says Okupe

The Presidency appears to be bellyaching over last week’s visit of nine opposition governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Borno and Yobe states.

Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe has accused the governors of “stealing” President Goodluck Jonathan’s scheduled plan to visit the two troubled states.

At a news conference in Abuja yesterday, Okupe said Jonathan had long been scheduled to visit Borno State this week, adding that having got wind of the President’s plans, the governors hurriedly packaged the visit to preempt the President’s planned visit.

Okupe labelled the governors as crass opportunists, adding that the tour was superficial and a media stunt.

He said: “The APC Governors’ visit was hurriedly packaged to preempt the visit of Mr. President which had been planned and scheduled several weeks ago. This is surely an act of crass opportunism and political desperation on the part of these Governors and the party they represent.

“We regard that visit as a media circus, stunt and photo-ops by these governors who were apparently in Maiduguri to feather their political nests. If I may ask, where were these governors in the last 18 months that they had been in office?

“It is obvious that it is part of their mobilization drive that took them to Borno State rather than any patriotic call to duty. These are desperate power mongers who flock together in spite of their obvious conflicting political philosophies and inordinate ambitions”.

Stating that insurgency is no longer an emergency situation in the country, Okupe went on: “Lastly, we will like the ACN to explain to Nigerians the benefits that the celebrated visit has brought to the citizens of Borno State and what effect it had on the activities of the Boko Haram sect which even carried out bomb attacks while the APC meeting was in progress.

“That visit which was borne out of sheer political recklessness could have caused Nigeria major security embarrassment but for the fact that the Federal Government and its security apparatus took extra efforts to ensure the visiting governors were safe.

“Being elected officials, the onus was on the Federal Government to ensure that they were safe in spite of their being oblivious of the peculiar security implications and real potential dangers inherent in their hurriedly packaged visit”.

Asked why it has taken the President close to two years to plan his visit to the bomb-ravaged states, the President’s aide retorted that Jonathan’s visits are scheduled ahead of time and that it was not yet the turn of Borno in the President’s itinerary.

When confronted with the fact that the President had visited Kano and Kaduna states a few days after bombs shattered the peace of the two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-controlled Northwestern states at intervals last year Okupe drew a line between the two scenarios.

He said: “The Kano bomb blast was an emergency situation, whereas the insurgency in Borno is not an emergency. Boko Haram insurgency is no longer an emergency situation in the country.

“President Jonathan is not a showman who wants to be praised for his actions. He has all the while having sleepless nights, mapping out security strategies to tackle insecurity. He does what is needful at all times”, the President’s aide said.

When it was pointed out that the governors deserved commendation for the visit, instead of condemnation, Okupe countered that they only played to the gallery.

“I am not a fool and I cannot be fooled. Where were these governors 18 months ago. Have they just seen people being killed. We don’t play to the gallery the way they do”.

Apparently to cushion the effects of scathing criticisms against President Jonathan’s perceived insensitivity to the plight of Borno, as alleged by the government and people of the state, Okupe said Vice President Namadi Sambo’s visit to Borno early January was at the instance of the President.

“The Vice President went to Borno to represent the President”, Okupe said, adding that the President and the PDP governors would not go to Borno to canvass for votes like the APC governors did.

The President’s aide tongue lashed the opposition parties for criticising the Federal Government’s poor handling of the security situation in the country, saying that insecurity has been reduced to the barest minimum under the Jonathan administration.

Is it not time enough for someone to tell Mr. Okupe that Nigerians are getting wiser every minute of the hour, hence are no longer swayed by the old nursery refrains he churns out day in, night out. Since the very first day his unpopular appointment was announced, he has left nobody in doubt that he is a political jobber whose tricks and styles expired a century ago. At a point, some us who were toddlers in his (Okupe) good old days at National Concord wondered what has come upon him of recent. Should one blame him? No! With due respect i blame Mr. President and his advisers for caving-in to the pressure of Okupe. Unfortunately, his appointment in the first instance is misplaced when we have Dr. Ruben Abatti in office. Economically, morally, professionally, and politically Okupe is deficit to GEJ’s cabinet and Nigeria in generally. His responses to serious national issues are just to pedestrian; lack decorum, professionalism, and sound reasoning expected from such office. Does the President requires a ‘roforofo’ fighter as a mouthpiece
at a time the country is in a strait? Mr. President, Nigeria deserved better deals. When you picked Ruben, the whole world rose to commend you. But without fear have contradiction, the popular verdict is, Okupe is an extra luggage, NOT needed to hone your administration’s policies. Beware, ‘too many cooks spoil the soup.’ An most importantly, the country is tired of recycling ‘tired’ and spent forces.

John Jonathan

This man called Okupe is a confused man. Let him and the president be planning on how to leave Aso Rock. They (Okupe and his Presidency) only succeded in fooling themselvs. Power monger PDP.

Case Ejike

Can PDP ever be on the same page again? On one hand Servant Leader is praising the APC Governors visit to NE Nig,appointed Okupe is busy with his usual self attacking,blaming, accusing them of steal.

jameselijah

No mind those small pikin governors, o jare! Only the naive will not see through their childish antics.

Femi Fakunle

It is better to tell Okupe that Nigerians of today has gone beyond analogue but digital. Since there has been bombing in the North Jonathan ought to have been in Borno not later than January 2012!

Femi Daodu

Okupe or what is your name, has Jonathan got a plan? Why should you as a father and husband lie every time you open your month just because of your desperation to share out of the stolen money. Looking at you, i am convinced, you are a desperation person. Mind you, the over N800m naira contract you got from the Benue govt which you collect the money and failed to execute cannot be swept under the carpet. You fat thief.